HTTP/2 is it the correct path? Nov 26, 2018

Here we go again... Another layer upon more layers. I will not go into the crap we have to put with in HTTP/.9 /HTTP/1.0, HTTP/1.1, SSL,
TSL,
and TCP now we have HTTP/2, does it solve anything. The HTTP/2
95 page specification does nothing to reduce complexity of information exchange.
The first thing that struck me about the specification was the same convention of a client and server, this is not going anywhere.

More fixed length binary values in the HTTP/2 specification. A frame length
limit of 16,384 unless something something or something... 8 bit types and
flags. Someone decided that this will be good enough for the next thousand
years, or the next release which ever comes first. I wish programmers would quit
putting limits on everything.

The frame type:An eight bit predefined hard coded numeric value. A fixed
application with no hope for expansion. The specification is crap, using
abbreviated words to define numeric values. RST instead of
spelling out RESET, this only goes to prorogate misunderstanding of use.

Setting Parameters:Again fixed number of bits binary value hard coded to documentation.
A bad specification on the exact meaning and use of preset parameters (I
have no idea what they mean by WINDOW, among others...)

Security:Not secure for very long, how many versions of versions is
acceptable. We only know about a few very obvious hacks, what about all
the others? If I broke your security, would I tell you? I do not trust
any of these so called security systems. Having private security systems
make more sense.

Not the right approach... why secure public information, time
wasted. I would prefer to know that very special care of my
banking information is being handled better than my listing of a cake
recipe. DO NOT LOCK every page, use a simple fast security for public
data, take the "LOCK" image off the page, I want full deep security and
know that it is handled special when I'm entering my credit card numbers
(put the LOCK image on in this case). To lock every page is the
wrong path, I cannot trust anything or it is so slow at to make it
worthless (if done right)

The HTTP/2 is simply an application for packet transfer, not packet content. I
would prefer to see a more complete specification. Some of the thing I would
like is less programming and better content handling:

The packet description should be self defining (never need a new
version)

That all numeric values be infinite in size

keep out application specific needs from the specification (PROMISE,
handled but not needing to be part of the specification)

No distinction should be made between client and server

Remove all previous specifications (rewrite the browsers and web
servers)

Implement data transfer at the compiler level (program once, usable by
every application)

Be more realistic in what numeric encoding does or does not do. Never
assume... which is what it does in HTTP/2

Instead of HTTP/2 (another application on top of a known flawed
specification), redesign the complete system. We need less programming
not more. The HTTP/1.0 and HTTP/1.1 is not being replaced. It was near
impossible to program even the most trivial implementation of these protocols.
Now we must implement another packet handler, we must also implement SSL/TSL
logic as well, something that has only been done even by massive efforts. If we
look at Intel's instruction set as an example of a layered specification, which
started out at 107 pages (8080 pocket Guide 1977, 3.5" x 4.5") of documentation
now requires 2,300 full size pages. I think human time is more valuable than
computer time.

I will implement HTTP/2 in Jane (for the users), but will implement my own
data transfer specification that concentrates on content handing not just packet
handling, and handled by the language (i.e. A = B) transfer a file from
one application to another, or from one machine to another. Since Jane is the
client and server, it makes no difference where information goes, and we should
not care how.

Yes I think HTTP/2 is the wrong path. To add just a few new transport
capabilities, we do not need to create a whole new technology layer. I
hate application specific technologies that have no real value. I will not know
if anything is really secure. It will definitely sell hardware, which will be
needed to add yet another reformatting of content that will slow down the
transporting of information. If we ask ourselves how many bytes of information
really need to be secured? I think we will find maybe 0.0001% of data that we
need absolute secure, which unfortunately we cannot accomplish. Be realistic in
what HTTP/2 is trying to accomplish. Security should not be it, security
should be totally excluded from just another really lame programming task. To
containment information technology with yet another layer will delay
technology even more... It will however make job, sell hardware, and sell books.
It will push more of our technology into the hands of monopolies.